Shoe upper molding machine



Oct. 18,1949. M. DODGE SHOE UPPER MOLDING MACHINE lSheecs-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1946 WfiW 7& mid 46. H a

Oct. 18, 1949. M. DODGE 2,484,877

SHOE UPPER MOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ..H.........-VWNY\\\\\\\ M i Oct. 18, 1949. DODGE SHOE UPPER MOLDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1946 Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to the molding of shoe uppers, particularly the vamp, preliminary to lasting, and while not restricted thereto is of particular value in the preparation of a shoe upper for slip lasting, since it provides for crimping the vamp longitudinally to its back edge in all vertical and horizontal planes to last shape and curves in the lower margin around the side and toe, without requiring longitudinal seams in the upper, to the contour of the sock lining or innersole to which it is secured preparatory to slip lasting.

It may, however, turn in the margins, which facilitates lasting by other methods than slip last- 1ng.

A further object is to shape a moldable toe stifiener together with the upper in a single operation, whether or not the upper is seamed.

Still another object is to provide a machine wherein the shoe upper on a last-shaped form is presented to a stretchable sheet of material which is stretched around the form, pressing and wiping the vamp to the contour of the form, the machine beingan improvement over that shown in my application for patent Serial No. 871,232, filed May 21, 1946, for Machine for shaping shoe end portions.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had. to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively, of a vamp molding machine embodying the invention.

Figure 1a is a fragmentary top plan view of the wipers and related parts.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a vamp preparatory to the molding operation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary central vertical sectional views through the molding elements and vamp showing successive stages in the operation of the machine.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to a portion of Figure '7, but showing a modification particularly suitable in connection with slip lasting.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the vamp fully molded and in condition for attachment to a sock lining or innersole preparatory to slip lasting.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line ll0 of Figure 9.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are perspective views of slippers having the vamp variously constructed and molded to the desired contours.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the molding machine comprises a standard I which is adapted to be secured to the forward face of a table 2 as by bolts 3, the standard itself projecting rearwardly of the forward edge of the table through a slot therein. This standard I is provided with an upstanding arm 4 carrying at its forward end a support 5. Slidably mounted on this support are a pair of side wipers 6 (see Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6). These wipers 6 are supported at the forward end of an axially movable bar 8 which is slidable through the upstanding arm 4, and at its rear end is engaged by the upper portion of a cam element 9 pivoted at II] at its lower end to a bracket ll extending rearwardly from the standard I.

The wipers 6, as shown best in Figure 2, are engaged on their outer faces by actuating rollers l5 J'ournaled between forks l6 which are adjustable laterally by screws I 1 threaded through horizontal arms I8 pivoted at H) to the bracket 5. Engaging the outer edges of the arms l8 are ex-'' tensions 20a of arms 20 pivoted at 2| between the sides of a forked extension 22 at the forward edge of the standard I. Their lower ends have pivoted thereto a pair of links 23 which are ivoted together at 24 and engaged on the pivot is a vertical stem 25 mounted for vertical motion through a guide boss 26 projecting forwardly from the standard I beneath the level of the table. This stem 25 is provided with a longitudinal slot 25a through which extends a pin 2'! carried by a pair of links 28, which at their lower ends are pivoted on a cross pin 29 to a hand lever 30 fulcrumed at 3| to the lower end portion of the standard I. The rear end of the hand lever 30 is pivoted at 32 to the lower end of a sleeve 33 which is telescopically related to a rod 34 secured at its upper end to a member 35. The upper end of the member 35 is pivoted to a lever 36 fulcrumed at 31 at the top of the standard 4 and above the table 5. This lever 36 carries at its forward end a downwardly extending arm 38 to the lower end of which is fixed a molding form 39. This molding form is shaped to general last contour and is arranged with its sole face 40 upwardly faced. The sleeve 33 and the member 35 are connected together by a pair of toggle links 45 provided at their pivotal connection to each other with a roll 46 which may engage with a cam bar 41 angularly and vertically adjustable on a bracket extension 48 of the table 2.

Asthe forward end of the handle 30 is depressed, the sleeve 33 is lifted and pressure is ofthe sheet material.

imparted through the nearly alined toggle links 45 to the member 35, lifting the rear end of the lever 36 and depressing the form 39, the roll 46 bearing against the cam 41. This form is depressed between the wipers 6 against a sheet of stretchable material 50, such as rubber, the upper margins of which overlie the Wipers 6 and are suitably secured thereto. This sheet material 50 is of such a size that when the form 39 is pressed downwardly thereinto, it is stretched so that 10 when a flat tempered vamp 55, such as is shown detached in Figures 3 and 4, is placed between the form 39 and the sheet material 50 and the form is then pressed against the sh'eet; this slfeet material presses the vamp against the form and as the pressure continues, wipes the vamp around the form and to its contour. -The portions of the sheet material which engage about the sides of the form as the material stretches, move bodily along the form, thus toproduce the wiping eiTect desired. When the form 39 is depressed sufficiently to pass below the wipers, the cam roll 46 'rides'out on the rounded upper end of the cam bar 41 allowing the toggle to break and'discon- 'tinuingthe downward swing of the former'39,"

and the wipers are brought inwardly over the sole wardly from the sleeve 33. It will be noted that the form 39 is of sufficient length to provide for shaping the contour of the vamp throughout its, full length, even when the vamp is provided with a vamp reinforce at its upper end as shown at 65 on Figure 4.

i 111 order to reduce the wear on the sheet material 50 around the margins ofthe form, an apron til-formed of a strip of leather, or like material, mayoverliethe marginal portion of the sheet 'material 58 and be clampedat its outer edge by the means which-secures the marginal portion This apron engages the, vamp where the greatest slip on the vamp occurs during the molding operation.

The form 39 may be angularly adjustable, if

desired, as shown in Figure 2, the arm 38 being w fixed'to a -r block 68 pivoted at 38a to the lever -"50 ma be associated with e p d fiml '36, adjusting screws 69 threaded throughthe head of the T bearingagainst the lever I 1 either side of the pivot 38a.

'The cam member 9 is held up against an adjustable abutment at the rear end of the bar 8- as by a spring 9a, and the rearward thruston the wipers 6,'c'aused bythe pressure exerted by the form 39 when it is lowered and before the wipers are movedforwardly, is cushioned by a spring 8a as shown in Figure 2.

is therefore wiped and turned in over the sole face of the form toward a common plane'as shown-in Figure 6. These turned-in portions'are -not secured in place, however, so that it is an easy matter, when the form with the vamp molded therearound is removed from between the wipers, to'remove the vamp from the form, but

=the folding inwardly of the margins of the'vamp.

so shapes these margins that it is an easy matter during the lasting operation to bring them in over the last and secure them in any desired manner without the necessity of any substantial pulling operations. 5 In case the vamp is to be used in a slip lasted shoe, it will be cut shorter than where it is pulled over the last, and commonly, also, the sole face of the form will be extended upwardly so that the edge of the vamp will terminate below it as -shown in' -Figur e 8, so thait"when the vamp is "'i'em'oved'it will be contoured as shown in Figures 9 and 10 with its lower edges turned downwardly "in condition for the margin of a sock lining or lnhers'ole '-(not shown) to be stitched thereto preparatory to slip lasting.

lit'willalsobe noted that the forming operation 1s: extended baohwardly to the full extent of the vamp and that where a vamp reinforce 65 is employed, this also is shaped to the desired contour. It will also be noted that this molding is done-without re'duiririg" any cutting of I the vamp as' ha's heretofore- 'een -comiii'only done, particularly-in the-"ease" or slip 'la'sted'shoes, in order to "-"shapethe vamp tdabbntour which will facilitate the F slip lasting operation. For i example, it has i been common practice -to'-notcl'1'- the forward Y end portion of'the-"vamp, bringing the"portions -at "'each side of the notch together and-' stitching "them; together over the toe po'rtion as shown at "10in'Figu're 11.

Sometimes, also,'*the vamphas been'-made in two' pieces joined together centrally as by the seem-11 as "shown" inFi'guie 1 3', thernatin'g edges t the seam ll being so out along curves as 'to pr'o'vi'detliedesired contour of "the t m some- 'time'sfalso, the" vamp has'been" made with 'alower upstanding stri'p T2 to the upper edge of which fisstitched aftoppiece l3 as'isshow'n inFigure 12,

40 to 'form "a "shoe having th aprjajf 6f "moccasin't'ype. V

I With tlidfor ming'opfatiori of this 'infa'chine'it is quite'unnecessary to resort teeny oi the constructions'shown in'Figures 11,"1"2'and-13. Howso formedwd the molding bp'eration' will "then serve to improve their contours and' ilriakethe slip i'astin'goperation slibs'tantially easien Als'o, in any case 'wli'e'r'e desired, a moldable" toe stiffener "gthr' therewith? such a "stiiien'erbeing" shown, "foe-emai ing at 1 5' Figures 3,4; and 9.

It will be noted that the me'thocFbarried out by this m-acliine rriolds tl'ie vamp to the' desired contour in all verticaland horizdntal p1anes -throughout its full length in a -single operation.

From the foregoing descriptionof 'ai1"embodi- "ment of -t'hi's invention, it will' be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therei-n without departingfrom the spirit or scope oftheinveiition.

- *Iclaim:

1. In combination, a support,-wipers carried by -:-said support-- for -motion toward and from each other, a sheet of stretchable material supper-ted about its margin by said -wipers, a 1 form having substantially the contour: of -ithe toeportiorr of a last, means supportingsaid =form-for motion towar-d and from said sheet material to pass be tween said wiper-sagainst said sheet-material and cause said-sheet material to be wrapped about and stretched over the top'faceanditoeend of said form-and to conform-a Ivamp between -said form and sheet material "to'the surface of said form, and means for the'reaftermoving isaid wipers in "over the sore "fa'bf "'s'aid ioi-m.

2. In combination, a support, wipers movable on said support toward and from each other, a sheet of stretchable material depending between said wipers and supported about its margin, a toe form, an arm pivoted above said support and supporting said form to swing downwardly and toward said wipers and in stretching relation to said sheet material therebetween, and means actuable to move said wipers inwardly over the sole face of said form.

3. In combination with a support, a standard fixed to said support and extending thereabove, wipers movable across the upper face of said support, a sheet of stretchable material bridging said wipers and depending therebetween, an arm pivoted on said standard, an element shaped to the contour of the forepart of a last, a lever pivoted to said standard above said support and carrying said element for motion between said wipers against and in stretching relation to said sheet material, a pair of arms pivoted to said standard and operatively connected to said wipers for moving said wipers laterally, a member connected to said wipers for forward and rearward motion, and actuating mechanism operatively connected to said lever, to said arms, and to said member movable to press said element between said wipers and against said sheet material with a shoe vamp therebetween, and thereafter to move said Wipers in over the sole face of said element.

4. In combination with a support, a standard fixed to said support and extending thereabove, wipers movable across the upper face of said support, a sheet of stretchable material bridging said wipers and depending therebetween, an arm pivoted on said standard, an element shaped to the contour of the iorepart of a last, a lever pivoted to said standard above said support and carrying said element for motion between said wipers against and in stretching relation to said sheet material, a pair of arms pivoted to said standard and operativel connected to said wipers for moving said wipers laterally, a member connected to said wipers for forward and rearward motion, an actuating lever, a cam follower connected for movement with said lever, a cam on said member for cooperation with said follower to move said member and wipers forwardly 0n sufficient motion of said actuating lever from starting position, a connection from said actuating lever to said element-carrying lever for moving said element into and out of position between said wipers and into and out of stretching relation to said sheet material, and a lost motion connection between said actuating lever and arms whereby on rocking said actuating lever in one direction said element is moved between said wipers and into stretching relation to said sheet material and thereafter said Wipers are moved in over the sole face of said element.

5. In combination with a support, a standard fixed to said support, wipers movable across the upper face of said support, a last shaped form, means supporting said form for motion transverse to and between said wipers, means cooperating with said form when said form is at one end of its stroke pressing a Vamp against said form, means actuable to move said wiper inwardly over said form and actuable to move said form, operative connections from said actuable means to said wipers including a lost motion mechanism, and operative connections between said actuable means and said form including mechanism releasable after a predetermined extent of motion of said form whereby said form is first moved to said end of its stroke and then said wipers are moved inwardly when said actuable means is actuated in one direction.

6. In combination with a support, a standard fixed to said support, wipers movable across the upper face of said support, a last shaped form, means supporting said form for motion transverse to and between said wipers, means cooperating with said form when said form is at one end of its stroke pressing a vamp against said form, means actuable to move said wipers inwardly over said form and actuable to move said form, operative connections from said actuable means to said wipers including a lost motion mechanism, and operative connections between said actuable means and said form including mechanism releasable after a predetermined extent of motion of said form whereby said form is first moved to said end of its stroke and then said wipers are moved inwardly when said actuable means is actuated in one direction, said releasable means including a toggle and a cam along which said toggle moves shaped to permit breaking of said toggle to release said form from said actuable means after said actuable means has been moved to a predetermined extent from a starting position.

MILTON L. DODGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 132,510 Wightman Oct. 22, 1872 1,943,344 Pym Jan. 16, 1934 2,040,124 Cummings et a1. May 12, 1936 2,301,785 Marx Nov. 10, 1942 

